14th session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues Speaker: Damian Cristo ZOR - (Association for the rights of the Romani people of Argentina) STATEMENT The main obstacle facing the Romani people is the invisibility that the Argentinean state has always given us, and invisibility is an efficient weapon for the elimination of a community. In Argentina there is no data on Romani people and in the few surveys that exist, we appear as the most discriminated against. In the absence of data and information, stereotyping reigns and it is from this that social conflicts between dominant and dominated groups begin. I am happy to see that this year Ms. Victoria Donda is the president of the minority forum because now I am sure that our demands regarding Argentina will be heard. The first recommendations go directly to the office of which Ms Chair Person is the president in Argentina, the INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism). - A new national plan against discrimination in Argentina will be published this year. We contacted the INADI more than a year ago and so far we have not been invited to participate in any meeting. We demand to be included in this document and to participate in its formulation. - We demand the urgent inclusion of the Romani issue in the INADI's agenda and the setting aside of a budget for next year to make this agenda a reality. Generally speaking, we are also making some recommendations to the Argentine state: - The Romani people should be included in the next census which will be conducted in the country. - They should be included in ILO Convention 169 on traditional people and communities. - The state should develop a public policy plan for Romani people. Finally, as the Romani people are a transnational community, I would like to leave a message to the Brazilian state: STOP KILLING US! In the last year, Brazilian police have already killed more than 10 Romani people on different occasions. We want justice!